Sunderland revellers raise £2,500 in memory of barmaid

FUND-RAISERS collected thousands of pounds in memory of a barmaid who died of breast cancer.

Julie Smith was 48 when she lost her fight with the disease in February.

The mum-of-one was diagnosed in November and had chemotherapy to try to cure the cancer, which spread to the rest of her body.

Friends and colleagues held a night to raise money in her memory for Breast Cancer UK and Macmillan Nurses last month at Red House Workingmen’s Club, where she worked.

Steward Darren Jardin said: “It was a very fitting tribute to a lovely lady.

“Everyone said they really enjoyed it.”

The night raised £2,500, which was split between the two charities. It was organised by staff at the club including Darren’s wife Liz Jardin, a stewardess, and Jaci McGinty and Joan Alcock, who worked with Julie during the three years she spent there.

Darren said: “There were a lot of people who knew her there, and they were all over the moon with what we were doing for her.”

Julie’s husband, Pete Smith, and son Peter, both of Red House, attended the evening, along with her brother Alan Huggins,and sister Lynn Huggins, of Downhill.

Darren added. “We want to thank everyone that got involved and donated prizes. We’re over the moon about raising that much money.”